Lepidosperma plant named ‘LEP01’

ABSTRACT

‘LEP01’ is a distinctive cultivar of  Lepidosperma gladiatum  which is characterized by a short plant height, dense foliage and fine-texture foliage. The new variety propagates successfully by division and tissue culture and has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Lepidosperma gladiatum.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Lepidosperma gladiatumdisclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘LEP01’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Australian Plant Breeders Rightsapplication number 2016/204, filed on Jul. 25, 2016, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘LEP01’ is a seedling selection resulting from a selectionprocess carried out by the inventor in Joondalup, Western Australia,Australia. In August of 2010, the inventor sowed seed collected fromseveral unnamed Lepidosperma gladiatum plants and grew them to a maturesize in order to evaluate for unique characteristics of commercialvalue. In March of 2011, the inventor discovered a seedling ofLepidosperma gladiatum which exhibited a smaller plant size andfine-textured foliage. This seedling was isolated and further evaluatedto assess the uniformity and stability of the characteristics firstobserved. After 3 years of propagation trials, the claimed plant wasselected for commercial production and given the name ‘LEP01’.

Asexual Reproduction: ‘LEP01’ was first asexually propagated in 2011 bydivision of the plant's crown in Joondalup, Western Australia, Australiaand has since been asexually reproduced by meristematic tissue culturepropagation. The distinctive characteristics of the inventive ‘LEP01’variety have proven to be stable through five generations and clones soproduced maintain the distinguishing characteristics of the originalplant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘LEP01’ is a distinctive cultivar of Lepidosperma gladiatum which ischaracterized by a short plant height, dense foliage and fine foliagetexture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in colorphotographs of this type, an exemplary ‘LEP01’ specimen of approximately12 months of age in a 250 mm nursery pot, grown at a commercial plantbreeding facility in Clarendon, NSW, Australia.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in colorphotographs of this type, an exemplary inflorescence of ‘LEP01’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctvariety of a Lepidosperma ornamental plant known as ‘LEP01’. Plantobservations were made on plants grown in Clarendon, NSW, Australia.Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are basedupon observations made in June of 2017 of three year-old ‘LEP01’ plantsgrown outdoors from rooted cuttings in 200 mm nursery pots filled withsoilless potting media, maintained with granular slow release fertilizerand regularly watered with overhead irrigation. No pest and diseasemeasures were taken.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘LEP01’ has notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety mayvary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature,light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Colornotations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, 2001 edition.

A botanical description of ‘LEP01’ and comparisons with the parent andmost similar variety of common knowledge are provided below.

-   General plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Perennial evergreen sedge; rhizomatous plant            forming a dense clump of foliage.        -   Height.—60 cm as measured.        -   Width.—40 cm as measured.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished by dividing the            crown of the plant and also by way of meristematic tissue            culture propagation.        -   Crop time.—Time to initiate rooting is approximately 4            weeks; time to develop a rooted cutting is approximately 10            to 12 weeks. An average crop time is approximately 6 to 9            months to produce a mature and marketable 1-gallon nursery            container, beginning with a rooted cutting.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Evergreen in USDA Hardiness Zones            8 through 11; adapt to temperatures ranging from            approximately 25 degrees Fahrenheit to 110 degrees            Fahrenheit. Shade and drought tolerant once established.        -   Pest and disease susceptibility or resistance.—Neither            resistance nor tolerance to pests and diseases known to            effect Lepidosperma gladiatum have been observed.-   Roots: Densely rooting; comprised of rhizomes and fibrous roots;    distributed evenly throughout the soil profile, from shallow to    deep. Juvenile roots are yellow-white, RHS 158B, and mature roots    are greyed-yellow, RHS 161C.-   Culms:    -   -   Culm attitude.—Upright.        -   Culm aspect.—Flattened.        -   Culm length.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Color.—Yellow-white, nearest to RHS 158C.-   Foliage:    -   -   Attachment.—Basal.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Arrangement.—Equitant.        -   Shape.—Linear; grass-like.        -   Mature leaf dimensions.—1.0 cm wide and 60 cm long, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Flattened.        -   Attitude.—Erect to slightly arching.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Sheathed.        -   Sheath color.—Brown, nearest to RHS 200A, at the base and            becoming greyed-orange towards the distal end, nearest to a            combination of RHS 166A and 166B.        -   Margins.—Knife-like.        -   Texture, adaxial surface.—Glabrous; smooth.        -   Texture, abaxial surface.—Glabrous; smooth.        -   Juvenile foliage color, adaxial surface.—Yellow-green, RHS            144A.        -   Juvenile foliage color, abaxial surface.—Yellow-green, RHS            144A.        -   Mature foliage color, adaxial surface.—Yellow-green, RHS            144A.        -   Mature foliage color, abaxial surface.—Yellow-green, RHS            144A.        -   Venation.—Parallel.        -   Vein color, adaxial surfaces.—Indistinguishable from            surrounding foliage, RHS 144A.        -   Vein color, abaxial surfaces.—Indistinguishable from            surrounding foliage, RHS 144A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Paniculate.        -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to early summer in            Clarendon, NSW, Australia.        -   Overall dimensions.—Up to 125 mm long, excluding the            peduncle, and 25 mm in diameter.        -   Position of inflorescence relative to foliage.—At or above            the foliage.        -   Bloom habit.—Very floriferous.        -   Spikelets.—Dimensions — Approximately 10 mm long and 2 mm in            diameter. General shape — Ovate outline with an acute apex.            Quantity of spikelets per inflorescence — Varying from 70            to 90. Glumes — Approximately 5 to 7 glumes are present,            spirally arranged; the lower 3 or 4 glumes are infertile;            infertile glumes are approximately 3 to 4 mm long and            fertile glumes are 4 to 5 mm long; apex is bluntly acute;            the texture is puberulous; the color with pubescence removed            is a combination of brown, RHS 200B, and greyed-orange, RHS            166A.        -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — Up to 360 mm long and 2 mm in            diameter. Attitude — Erect to semi erect. Strength — Medium.            Texture — Smooth. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A.-   Reproduction organs: Not observed.-   Seed: Not observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LEP01’ exhibit a short plant height ofapproximately 60 cm, whereas the seed parent, an unnamed Lepidospermagladiatum plant, grows to approximately 100 cm tall. ‘LEP01’ has anarrow leaf of approximately 1 cm in width, whereas the seed parent hasa wider leaf of approximately 1.5 cm in width.

COMPARISONS WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETY OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LEP01’ can be compared to the commercialcultivar, Lepidosperma sp. ‘LEP01’ (not patented), in that both aresmaller than the species with a fine leaf texture. However, ‘LEP01’exhibits light green foliage whereas the foliage of ‘LEP08’ is darkergreen. The foliage of ‘LEP01’ is broader than that of ‘LEP08’. Theinflorescence of ‘LEP01’ is positioned at or above the foliage, whereasthe inflorescence of ‘LEP08’ is positioned within the foliage.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Lepidospermagladiatum named ‘LEP01’, substantially as described and illustratedherein.